Reverse cycle valve



April 1, 1958 E. J. BARUSCH 2,828,767

REVERSE CYCLE VALVE Filed Feb. 7. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1, 1958 E.J. BARUSCH 2,828,767

REVERSE CYCLE VALVE Filed Fab. 7, 1956' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United StatesPatent" REVERSE CYCLE VALVE Edward J. Barusch, Coral Gables, Fla.

Application February 7, 1956, Serial No. 563,902

4 Claims. (Cl. 137-62529) The present invention relates generally tovalves. More particularly, the invention relates to that type of valvewhich is known in the art as a reverse cycle valve; is designedprimarily for use in connection with either a heat pump or a mechanicalrefrigeration system embodying a motor driven refrigerant compressor, acondenser, an evaporator and a conduit between one end of the condenserand one end of the evaporator; comprises a casing with first, second,third and fourth ports therein; also comprises a movably mountedtwo-position valve member in the casing; has the first port open orexposed at all times to the casing interior and connected by a tube tothe pressure side of the compressor; has the second port connected by atube to the other end of the condenser; has the third port connected bya tube to the suction side of the compressor; has the fourth portconnected by a tube to the other end of the evaporator; is adapted whenthe valve member is in one of its two positions to have the member openor expose the second port and cross connect or establish communicationbetween the fourth and third ports and thereby cause the refrigerant toflow first through the condenser and then through the evaporator; and isfurther adapted when the valve member is in the other of its twopositions to have such member open or expose the fourth port and crossconnect or establish communication between the second and third portsand thereby cause the refrigerant to flow first through the evaporatorand then through the condenser.

One object of the invention is to provide a reverse cycle valve which isan improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over,previously designed valves of the aforementioned type and ischaracterized by high efficiency and such a novel construction andarrangement of parts that it may be produced at an extremely low costand also assembled and dismantled with facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reverse cycle valve ofthe type and character under consideration and in which the casingconsists of an elongated cylindrical side wall and removable end wallsat the ends of the side wall, the first port is formed in one portion ofthe casing side wall, the second, third and fourth ports are arranged ina rectilinear series and are formed in an elongated plate which isdisposed directly inwards and extends lengthwise of another portion ofthe casing side wall, and the three tubes which are associatedrespectively with the second, third and fourth ports have the endsthereof that directly communicate with said three ports arranged so thatthey extend snugly through holes in said another portion of the casingside wall and have the extremities thereof disposed within the casinginterior and attached by fluid tight connections to the elongated platein which said second, third and fourth ports are formed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reverse cycle valve ofthe last mentioned character and in which the elongated plate in whichthe second, third and fourth ports are formed has outwardly facingannular recesses around such ports, and the aforementioned tube extremities which are disposed in the casing interior are outwardlytapered and have positioned therearound O-rings which fit within saidrecesses and form therewith the fluid tight connections for attachingsaid tube extremities to the plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reverse cycle valve ofthe type and character under consideration and in which the inner sidesurface of the elongated plate in which the second, third and fourthports are formed is lapped, and the movably mounted two-position valvemember is block-like in configuration, is disposed within, and extendslengthwise of, the casing side wall, has one side surface thereof lappedand in sliding engagement with the lapped inner side surface of theplate, and embodies in its one lapped side surface a comparatively widelongitudinally extending groove for cross connecting the fourth andthird ports when the valve member is in one of its two positions andcross connecting the second and third ports when the valve member is inthe other of its two positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reverse cycle valve ofthe last mentioned character and in which the valve member is slidlongitudinally back and forth between its two positions by way of apiston which is slidably mounted in one end of the cylindrical sidewallof the casing and is operatively connected to the blocklike valve memberby a centrally positioned rod.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reverse cycle valve ofthe character last mentioned and in which the piston rod is connected tothe valve member by a particular head and slot connection which uponremoval of the piston from the valve casing permits the valve member tobe readily disconnected from the piston rod.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reverse cycle valve ofthe type and character under consideration and in which the block-likevalve member is urged into firm sliding engagement with the elongatedplate by way of a leaf spring which is disposed in the interior of thecasing sidewall and is anchoredor secured in place in a novel manner. V

A still further object of the invention is to provide a reverse cyclevalve which is generally of new and improved construction andeffectively and efficiently ful fills its intended purpose.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages andcharacteristics of the present reverse cycle valve will be apparent froma consideration of the fol-, lowing detailed description. V

The invention consists in the several novel features which arehereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at theconclusion hereof. I

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification ordisclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing a reverse cycle valveembodying the invention with the valve member thereof in one of its twopositions;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section like Figure 1 except that it showsthe block-like valve member in the other of its two positions; V

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and illustratingin detail the construction, design and arrangement of the elongatedplate in which the second, third and fourth ports are formed; 7

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 1 and showing theconstruction and arrangement of the block-like valve member;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the valve member;

Figure 7 is a perspective of the rod which serves operatively to connectthe piston to the valve member; and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view showing-use of the reverse cycle valvein a conventional mechanical refrigeration system of the type thatembodies a compressor, a condenser and anevaporator.

. The reverse cycle valve which is shown in the drawings constitutes thepreferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is illustrated inFigure 8 of the drawings as forming a part of a conventional mechanicalrefrigeration system and has as its principal components or parts acasing 9, four refrigerant tubes 10, 11, 12 and 13, a portforming plate14, a movably mounted two-position valve member 15, and a piston 16 foreffecting shift or sliding movement of the valve member back and forthbetween its two positions. The refrigeration system embodies a motordriven uni-directional refrigerant compressor 17, a condenser 18, anevaporator 19 and a conduit 20 between one end of the condenser and oneend of the evaporator, and is, as hereinafter described more in detail,so controlled by the valve that when the valve member is in one of itstwo positions the refrigerant flows first through the condenser and thenthe evaporator and when the valve member is in the other of its twopositions the refrigerant flows first through the evaporator and thenthrough the condenser.

The casing 9 of the valve is illustrated in the drawings as beingpositioned vertically although it is to be understood that the valvecasing may be otherwise positioned. It is of composite character andconsists of a cylindrical side wall 21 and a pair of end walls 22 and23. The cylindrical side wall 20 may, if desired, be formed of a sectionof pipe or a length of standard tubing and except for the hereinafterdescribed screw threads is of uniform internal diameter from end to end.The lower end of the side wall 20 is provided with an internal screwthread 24 and the upper end of the side wall is provided with aninternal screw thread 25.. The lower end portion of the casing side wall21 has in one side thereof a pair of vertically spaced circular holes 26and embodies in the opposite side thereof a vertical series of threeequidistantly spaced circular holes 27, 28 and 29. The holes are spacedan appreciable distance apart and together form a first port which isalways open or exposed and is connected to the pressure side of thecompressor 17 by the tube 10 as described hereafter. The hole 27 ispositioned above the holes 28 and 29 and is located. diametricallyopposite'to the upper hole 26. The hole 29 is the lowermost hole of theaforementioned vertical series of three holes and is locateddiametrically opposite to the lower hole 25. The hole 28 is disposedmidway between the holes 27 and 29 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The endwall 23 of the casing 9 extends across, and serves as a closure for, thelower end of the cylindrical side wall 21 and is provided on the centralportion thereof with an integral upwardly extending lug-like part 30which fits within the lower end of the side wall 21 and is provided withan external screw thread 31. The latter is normally in interfittingrelation with the internal screw thread 24 and forms with the lattermeans for removably securing the end wall 22 in its operative or normalposition. The end wall 22 is preferably polygonal in shape orconfiguration in order that it may be readily gripped by the hand or awrench in connection with connecting it to or removing it from the lowerend of the cylindrical side wall 21. A circular gasket 32 of rubber orany other suitable elastic material extends around the lower end of thelug-like part 30 and, when the end wall 22 is in its operative position,forms a fluid tight seal between the end wall and the lower end of thecasing side wall 21. The end wall 23 of the casing 9 extends across, andserves as a closure for, the upper end of the cylindrical of with anintegral depending lug-like part 33 which fits within the upper end ofthe side wall 21 and is provided with an external screw thread 34. Thelatter is normally in interfitting relation with the internal screwthread 25 and forms with the latter means for removably securing the endwall 23 in its operative or normal position. The end wall 23 ispreferably polygonal in order that it may be readily gripped by the handor a wrench in connection with connecting it to or removing it from theupper end of the cylindrical side wall 21. A circular gasket 35, likethe gasket 32, extends around the upper end of the lug-like part 33 and,when the end wall 23 is in its operv ative position, forms a fluid tightseal between the end wall and the upper end of the casing side wall 21.The central portion of the end wall 23 is provided with a screw threadedsocket 36 in which is mounted the lower end of a vertically extendingexternally threaded coupling 3'7. The latter has its interior incommunicating relation with the upper end of the interior of the casingside wall 21 by way of a vertically extending duct 33 in the centralportion of the depending lug-like part 33 and is adapted to be connectedby a conduit (not shown) to a valve-controlled suction source (also notshown).

The tube 10 extends between the compressor 19 and the valve casing andserves to establish communication between the pressure side of thecompressor and the interior of said valve casing 9. One end of the tube10 is suitably connected to the pressure side of the compressor and theother end of the tube is provided with a pair of curved oppositelydisposed discharge branches 39. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the ends ofthe branches 39 fits snugly within the holes 26 and are fixedly securedto the casing side wall 21 by rings 40 of solder. Such solder ringsextend around, and are bonded to, the ends of the branches ,39 at thedischarge end of the tube 10 and fit against, and are bonded to, theportions of the casing side wall 21 that definethe holes 26. When thecompressor 17 is in operation, the tube It) serves to deliver thecompressed refrigerant from the compressor into the lower portion of theinterior of the valve casing 9. The holes 26 which as previously pointedout together constitute a first port in the valve casing are always openor exposed.

The tube 11 extends between, and is connected to, the valve casing 9 andthe condenser 18. One end of the tube 11 is suitably connected to theend of the condenser thatis opposite to the end to which the conduit 20is connected. The other end of the tube extends snugly through the hole27 in the casing side wall 21 and projects a comparatively smalldistance into the interior of the valve casing. It is fixedly connectedto the casing side wall 21 by way of a ring 41 of solder and has theextremity thereof tapered outwards so as to form an annular seat 42therearound. The solder ring 41 extends around, and is bonded to, theportion of the tube 11 that is directly outwards of the hole 27, andfits against, and is bonded to, the portion of the casing side wall 21that defines the hole 27. An O-ring 43 of rubber or other resilientmaterial extends around, and fits snugly within, the annular seat 42.

The tube 12 extends between, and is connected to, the valve casing 9 andthe suction side of the compressor 17. One end of the tube 12 issuitably connected to said suction side of the compressor and the otherend of the tube extends snugly through the hole 28 in the casing sidewall 21 and projects a comparatively small distance into the interior ofthe valve casing. It is fixedly connected to the casing side wall 21 byway of a ring 44 of solder and has its extremity tapered outwards so asto form an annular seat 45 therearound. The solder ring 44 extendsaround, and is bonded to, the portion of the tube 12 that is directlyoutwards of the hole 28, and fits against, and is bonded to, the portionof the casing side wall 21 that side wall 21 and is provided on thecentral portion there- '15 defines said hole 28. A g like the (Mingextends around, and fits snugly within, the annular seat 45.

The tube 13 extends between, and is connected to, the valve casing 9 andthe evaporator 19. One end of the tube 13 is suitably connected to theend of the evaporator that is opposite to the end to which the conduit20 is connected. The other end of the tube 13 extends snugly through thehole 29 in the casing side wall 21 and projects a comparatively smalldistance into the interior of the valve casing. It is fixedly connectedto the casing side wall 21 by way of a ring 47 of solder and has theextremity thereof tapered outwards so as to form an annular seat 48therearound. The solder ring 47 extends around, and is bonded to, theportion of the tube 13 that is directly outwards of the hole 29, andfits against, and is bonded to, the portion of the casing side wall 21that defines said hole 29. An O-ring 49, like the O-rings 43 and 46,surrounds, and fits snugly within, the annular seat 48.

The port-forming plate 14 is disposed Within, and extends lengthwise of,the lower portion of the interior of the valve casing 9 and ispreferably formed of tool steel. It is disposed a small distance inwardsof the holes 27, 28 and 29 in the casing side wall 21 and has formedtherein a second port 50, a third port 51 and a fourth port 52. Thesethree ports are arranged in a rectilinear vertically extending seriesand are circular. The second port 50 is in registry and communicationwith the adjacent end of the tube 11 and is surrounded by an outwardlyfacing annular recess 53 in which the O-ring 43 fits snugly. The thirdport 51 is located a small distance beneath the second port 50. It is inregistry and communication with the adjacent end of the tube 12 and issurrounded by an outwardly facing annular recess 54 in which the O-ring46 fits snugly. The fourth port 52 is formed in the lower end of theplate 14 and is positioned or located a small distance beneath the thirdport 51. It is in registry and communication with the adjacent end ofthe tube 13 and is surrounded by a rearwardly facing annular recess 55in which the O-ring 49 fits snugly. The three outwardly facing annularrecesses 53, 54 and 55 are formed in the outer side surface of the plate14, i. e., the side surface that faces towards the holes 27, 28 and 29.The three O-rings 43, 46 and 49 form fluid tight connections or jointsbetween the second, third and fourth ports and the adjacent ends oftheir respective or associated tubes. The inner side surface of theport-forming plate 14 is flat and lapped. In assembling the valve, theplate 14 is inserted lengthwise into the lower end portion of theinterior of the valve casing 9 and is then shifted laterally or outwardsin order to bring the three O-rings 43, 46 and 49 into seated relationwith their respective outwardly facing annular recesses 53, 54 and 55.When the O-rings are properly seated into such recesses, theport-forming plate 14 is held against lengthwise and lateraldisplacement relatively to the valve casing and the second, third andfourth ports are in fluid tight relation with the adjacent ends of theirrespective or associated tubes. If it is desired to remove theportforming plate 14 for cleaning or inspection purposes, it is onlynecessary to remove the end wall 22 from the lower end of the casingside wall 21 and then shift the plate laterally away from the adjacentends of the tubes 11, 12 and 13. Such shift on the part of the platereleases the plate from the adjacent ends of said three tubes and hencepermits it to be withdrawn from the valve interior by moving itdownwards through the lower end of the casing side wall 21.

The valve member 15 of the reverse cycle valve is block-like so far asconfiguration or shape is concerned. It is square in cross section andis disposed in, and extends lengthwise, of, the lower portion of theinterior of the valve casing 9. The length of the valve member 15 isapproximately two-thirds of the length of the portforming plate 14. Oneof the side surfaces of the valve member is flat and lapped and fitsslidablyI against the lapped inner side surface of the plate 14. Thevalve member 15 is provided in its lapped side surface with acomparatively wide longitudinally extending groove 56 and is slidablevertically back and forth between a down position as shown in Figure 1and an up position as shown in Figure 3. When the valve member is in itsdown position, it exposes the second port 50 and by way of the groove 56cross connects or establishes communication between the fourth port 52and the second port 51, and when the valve member is in its up positionit exposes the fourth port 52 and by way of said groove 56 crossconnects or establishes communication between the second port 56 and thethird port 51. When the valve is in its aforementioned down position,the refrigerant that is compressed by the compressor 17 flows firstthrough the tube 10, then into the lower portion of the valve casinginterior 9 via holes 26 in the casing side wall 21, then through theexposed second port 50, then through the tube 11, then through'thecondenser 18, then through the conduit 20, then through the evaporator19, then through the tube 20, then through the fourth port 52, thenthrough the longitudinal groove 56 in the lapped side surface of thevalve member, then through the third port 51 and finally back to thecompressor by way of the tube 12. When the valve member 15 is in its upposition as shown in Figure 3, the refrigerant that is compressed by thecompressor flows first through the tube 10, then through the lowerportion of the valve casing 9, then through the fourth port 52, thenthrough the tube 13, then through the evaporator 19, then through theconduit 20, then through the condenser 18, then through the tube 11,then through the second port 50, then through the groove 56, thenthrough the third port 51, and finally back to the compressor by way ofthe tube 12. In connection with such flow of the refrigerant defrostingof the evaporator 19 occurs. The upper end of the valve member 15 isprovided with a horizontally elongated inverted T-shaped notch 57 whichcomprises a vertically extending upper part 58 and a horizontallyextending lower part 59 and has the end thereof that is nearer thelapped side surface of the valve member 15 closed by a verticallyextending wall 60. The other end of the notch is open and extendsthrough the side wall of the valve member that is in opposed relationwith the aforesaid lapped side surface of the valve member.

The piston 16 of the reverse cycle valve is mounted for vertical slidingmovement in the upper end portion of the side wall 21 of the valvecasing 9 and serves as a medium for sliding the valve member 15 back andforth between its down and up positions. It consists of a circularbottom wall 61 and an upwardly extending cylindrical side wall 62 and isoperatively connected to the valve member by a centrally disposeddepending rod 63. The cylindrical side wall 62 of the piston fitsslidably within the upper end portion of the casing side wall 21 andembodies in its outer periphery annular grooves 64 in which are mountedpiston rings 65. The upper end of the rod 62 is suitably connected in afixed manner to the central portion of the circular bottom wall 61 ofthe piston. The lower end of the rod 63 extends through the narrow upperpart 58 of the inverted T-shaped notch57 in the upper end of the valvemember 15 and is provided with an integral enlarged head 66 which fitswithin the wide lower part 59 of the notch 57 and coacts therewith toform a connection whereby the valve member is normally in interlockedrelation with the lower end of the piston rod but is capable of beingdisconnected from said lower end of the rod by shifting it laterallyrelatively thereto. The enlarged head 66 on the lower end of the pistonrod 63 is provided at one side thereof with a flat 67 which when thehead is in its normal position Within the wide lower part 59 of theinverted T-shaped notch 57 abuts against the inner surface of thevertically extending wall 60. When the valve member and thepiston.

F7 are removed from the valve casing 9, the valve member maybe removedfrom the lower end of the piston rod 63 merely by sliding it laterallyin the direction of the wall '60 until the head 66 is fully removed fromthe wide lower part 59 of the inverted T-shaped notch '7. Connection ofthe valve member 16 to the lower end of the piston rod 63 is effected bypositioning the valve memher so that the open end of the invertedT-shaped notch 57 is in alignment with the lower end of the rod and thenshifting the valve member laterally in order to effect disposition ofthe head 66 in the wide lower part 59 of the notch. A spiral compressionspring 63 serves when the upper portion of the interior of the valvecasing 9 is vented to atmosphere to slide the piston 16 downwards andthus effect movement of the valve member 15 into its aforementioned downposition. Such spring is located in the upper portion of the interior ofthe valve casing and has its upper end disposed in a downwardly facingsocket 69 in the lug-like part 33 on the central portion of the upperend wall 23. The lower end of the spring 68 fits Within the cylindricalside wall 62 of the piston and abuts against the circular bottom wall61. The piston 16 is slid upwards by creating a vacuum in the upperportion of the casing interior. It is contemplated that when it isdesired to slide the piston upwards the valve in the aforementionedvalve-equipped suction source will be opened. Upon opening of such valveair is evacuated from the upper portion of the casing interior via thecoupling 37 and results in the piston sliding upwards against the forceof the compression spring 68. In connection with upward sliding movementof the piston, the valve member 15 is caused to slide into its upposition.

In addition to the parts heretofore described, the reverse cycle valvecomprises a leaf spring '76 for urging the block-like valve member 15into firm sliding engagement with the port-forming plate 14. Such springis disposed adjacent to the portion of the casing side wall 21 that isbetween the holes 25. The central portion of the leaf spring is bowedaway from said portion of the side wall and bears against, and engagesslidably, the side surfaces of the valve member 15 that is opposite tothe lapped side surface. The ends of the leaf spring 70 are arranged sothat they extend outwards and are in parallel relation. They fit withinthe ends of the branches 39 at the discharge end of the tube and coacttherewith to hold the leaf spring as a whole against longitudinaldisplacement with respect to the casing side wall 21. Because of theaction of the bowed central portion of the leaf spring 79 the valvemember is urged against the port-forming plate 14 with spring pressure.The aforementioned leaf spring may be removed from its operativeposition after removal of the valve member 15 and the piston 16 from thevalve casing 9.

The herein described reverse cycle valve is essentially simple in designand due to the particular arrangement and construction of its parts notonly etfectively and efiiciently fulfills its intended purpose but alsois capable of being assembled and dismantled with facility.

Whereas the reverse cycle valve has been specifically described asforming a part of a conventional mechanical refrigeration system, it isto be understood that it has numerous other capabilities of use. lit isalso to be understood that the invention is not to be restricted to thedetails set forth since such details may be changed or modified withinthe scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what i claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: I

l. A reverse cycle valve comprising a metallic casing provided betweenits interior and exterior with an inlet opening for fluid under pressureand having in a portion of one wall thereof a rectilinear series ofthree spaced apart circular holes, an elongated separately formed platedisposed in the casing interior, positioned in parallel relation with,and a small distance inwards from, said portion of the one wall of thecasing, embodying between its inner and outer side surfaces alongitudinally extending series of three spaced apart circular ports inopposed relation with said holes respectively, and having in its outerside surface and around and communicating with the ports outwardlyfacing annular recesses, three separate spaced apart thin-walledmetallic tubes disposed for the most port externally of the casing,extending snugly through said three holes respectively, having theportions thereof that extend through said holes soldered in a fixed andfluid-tight manner to the holedefining parts of said portion of the onewall of the casing, and having the inner ends thereof positioned inregistering and communicating relation with the three ports respectivelyand shaped or bent to form tapered annular seats therearound, singleO-rings mounted in said seats respectively, fitting snugly in saidrecesses, and forming removable fluid tight connections between theplate and the inner ends of the fixed tubes whereby the plate may bedisconnected from the said inner ends of the tubes by shifting itlaterally and inwardly relatively thereto, an elongated block-like valvemember disposed in the casing interior, positioned directly inwards andlengthwise of the plate, having one side surface thereof in slidingengagement with the inner side surface. of said plate, movablelengthwise back and forth between a first position wherein it exposesone of the end ports and covers the intermediate port and the other endport and a second position wherein it exposes said other end port andcovers the intermediate port and the one end port, and provided in itssaid one side surface with a single longitudinal groove for crossconnecting the intermediate port and said other end port when the valvemember is in its first position and for cross connecting theintermediate port and said one end port when the valve member is in itssecond position, and means for moving the valve member back and forthbetween its first and second positions.

2. A reverse cycle valve comprising a casing consisting of an elongatedvertically extending cylindrical side wall and removable end walls,provided in a portion of the lower end of the side wall with an inneropening for fluid under pressure, and having in another portion of saidlower end of the side wall a rectilinear longitudinally extending seriesof three equi-distantly spaced holes, an elongated vertically extendingseparately formed plate disposed in the casing interior, positioned inparallel relation with, and a small distance inwards from, said anotherportion of said lower end of the casing side wall, and embodying betweenits inner and outer side surfaces a longitudinally extending series ofthree equidistantly spaced ports in opposed relation with said holesrespectively, three separate spaced apart thinwalled tubes disposed forthe most part externally of the casing, extending snugly through saidthree holes respectively, and having the portions thereof that extendthrough said holes connected in a fixed and fluid-tight manner to thehole-defining parts of said another portion of the lower end of thecasing side wall, and having the inner ends thereof in registering andcommunicating relation with the three ports respectively and connectedby removable fluid tight connections of such character that said platemay be disconnected from the inner ends of the tubes by merely shiftingit laterally and inwardly relatively thereto, an elongated verticallyextending blocklike valve member disposed in the casing interior,positioned directly inwards and lengthwise of the plate, having one sidesurface thereof in sliding engagement with the inner side surface ofsaid plate, movable lengthwise back and forth between a first positionwherein it exposes one of the end ports and covers the intermediate portand the other end port and a second position wherein it exposes saidother end port and covers the inter mediate port and the one end port,provided in its said one side surface with a single longitudinal groovefor cross connecting the intermediate port and said other end port whenthe valve member is in its first position and for cross connecting theintermediate port and said one end port when the valve member is in itssecond position, and having formed in the upper end thereof ahorizontally elongated inverted T-shaped notch which consists of avertically extending upper part and a horizontally extending lower partand has the upper end of its upper part extending through the topsurface of the valve member, and means adapted to move the valve memberback and forth between its first and second positions and embodying apiston mounted slidably in the upper end of the casing side wall and avertically extending rod positioned for the most part beneath the pistonhaving its upper end connected fixedly to the piston and its lower endextending through the vertically extending upper part of the notch andprovided at its bottom extremity with an enlarged head that fits within,and is the same in height as, the horizontally extending lower part ofthe notch, said inverted T-shaped notch having one side thereofintersecting and opening through one side of the valve member in orderthat when the piston, rod and valve member are removed from the casingthe valve member may be disconnected from the rod by shifting itlaterally relatively thereto.

3. A reverse cycle valve according to claim 2 and in which the otherside of the inverted T-shaped notch is closed by an integral part of thevalve member and the enlarged head on the bottom extremity of the lowerend of the rod embodies a flat which is normally in abutment with saidintegral part of the valve member and coacts with the latter to preventthe piston and valve member from turning one relatively to the other.

4. A reverse cycle valve comprising a casing consisting of an elongatedcylindrical side wall and removable end walls, provided in alongitudinally extending portion of the side wall with two spaced apartinlet openings for fluid under pressure, and having in the portion ofthe side wall that is directly diametrically opposite to the firstmentioned portion of the casing side wall a rectilinear longitudinallyextending series of three equidistantly spaced holes, an elongatedseparately formed plate disposed in the casing interior, positioned inparallel relation with, and a small distance inwards from, the second 10mentioned portion of the casing side wall, and embodying between itsinner and outer side surfaces a longitudinally extending series of threeequidistantly spaced ports in opposed relation with said holesrespectively, three separate spaced apart tubes extending snuglythrough, and fixedly connected to, said three holes respectively andhaving the inner ends thereof in registering and communicating relationwith the three ports respectively and connected by removable fluid tightconnections to the plate, an elongated block-like valve member disposedin the casing interior, positioned directly inwards and lengthwise ofthe plate, having one side surface thereof in sliding engagement withthe inner side surface of said plate, movable lengthwise back and forthbetween a first position wherein it exposes one of the end ports andcovers the intermediate port and the other end port and a secondposition wherein it exposes said other end port and covers theintermediate port and the one end port, and provided in its said oneside surface with a longitudinal groove for cross connecting theintermediate port and said other end port when the valve member is inits first position and for cross connecting the intermediate port andsaid one end port when the valve member is in its second position, meansadapted to move the valve member back and forth between its first andsecond positions, and a centrally bowed leaf spring operative yieldinglyto urge the valve member against said plate, 7

arranged lengthwise of the casing side wall and so that its centralportion is in sliding engagement with the valve member side surface thatis opposite to said one side surface, and having its ends bent outwardsand arranged so that they extend in. substantially parallel relation,project into and through the aforesaid spaced apart openings and coactwith the latter to hold the spring against longitudinal displacementwith respect to the casing side wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS444,438 Hinsdale Jan. 13, 1891 932,955 Brunton Aug. 31, 1909 2,743,900Holzer May 1, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 495,283 Great Britain of 1938

